Calls to widen program preventing petrol sniffing
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Part of the education campaign to warn against the dangers of petrol sniffing.
A delegation from central Australia will travel to Canberra this week to urge the Federal Government to introduce legislation banning regular fuel in the region in a bid to stop petrol sniffing.
Health officials say petrol sniffing can lead to brain damage, disability and even death.
In 2005 the Federal Government began subsidising the low-aromatic Opal fuel for petrol stations in the Northern Territory.
Blair Macfarland from the Central Australian Youth Link Up Service says the number of sniffers has since dropped, but that progress could be in jeopardy.
"These Aboriginal people who are coming down have all lost family members to petrol sniffing and they're really happy with the support they've got so far from the Federal Government," he said.
"They just want the Government to know that without this strategic support it could all really unravel."
Workers and families from the region will witness the release of the report from the recent Senate inquiry into petrol sniffing.
Mr Macfarland says because sniffing affects communities across various states and territories, the onus is on the Federal Government to take responsibility.
"The issue is that the NT Government can't make these laws because a lot of the petrol stations are over the border but they still affect NT communities," he said.
"So the Federal Government is the only one that can really make the legislation that is required that would give protection to all those communities.
"The NT Government we understand is really supportive of the Government doing that. "
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